NATICK: Alice (Parmenter) Schaefer, a lifelong resident of Natick, died early Tuesday morning, November 27, 2012. She had celebrated her 100th birthday on October 16th.
Born, raised and educated in Natick, she was the daughter of the late Gordon and Una Rae (Weldon) Parmenter. She graduated from Natick High School at age 16 and then worked for several years at the Natick Federal Bank.
Alice married in 1936 and concentrated on making a home for her family. During the war she began work with James Gregg at his insurance company. Earning her broker’s license, Alice worked with Mr. Gregg until his death. She made a bid to assume the business, but at the time, it was thought that a business loan entrusted to a woman was a bad idea. Undaunted, Alice went straight up the road to Wellesley and became employed with Corcoran Havlin Insurance in Wellesley. Seeing what an asset she was, the company opened a branch in Natick and placed Alice as its head. She soon had a multitude of clients, many of whom had known and trusted her from her days with James Gregg.
Continuing to work until age 80, Alice had by then become a computer enthusiast, a proclivity she never lost. She continued to read the New York Times daily and mastered their crossword puzzles with regularity. In 1997, she became a “snowbird,” staying several months each year with family in Clearwater, FL.
Of her active years in Natick, it can be said that Alice loved her community, was always ready to quietly help those in need. Civic minded, she tirelessly worked the polls year after year. Her family is very proud of her accomplishments and will miss this bright, loving, and gracious lady.
She is survived by a son, Gerard F. Schaefer of Northampton, a daughter, Ann K. Brown and her husband Bob of Natick; three grandchildren, Robert Brown of FL, Kathy Lentini and her husband Michael of Natick, and John Brown of Bellingham; and five great-grandchildren, Joshua, Shaun, Briana, Shane, and Derek.
There will be no public service. You may honor Alice’s memory by supporting the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind at 600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, Attn: Tom Lee.